McCarter adds Smedley, Korona to IP practice team

McCarter & English is expanding its Intellectual Property practice with the addition of two partners: James Smedley (in the Philadelphia office) and Alex Korona (in Newark).

Both Smedley and Korona are joining the firm from Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP.

Smedley, the former head of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole’s Intellectual Property and Technology group, acts as an outside general counsel, business adviser and strategist for numerous early-stage ventures. His focus is on protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights, domestically and internationally. While he has a deep background in computer-related technologies, including both software and hardware, he also serves clients in a broad range of industries, including consumer products, biotech, life sciences and real estate.

Smedley is an ardent video gamer, representing esports players, organizations and teams in management, contracting and branding matters with his firsthand knowledge of the issues involved in the gaming industry. He advises entities of all sizes and at all growth stages, from startups to Fortune 100 companies, across the intellectual property lifecycle. He earned his J.D. from Boston University Law School and has a dual undergraduate degree in computer science and English from Rutgers University. He is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and is also a registered Canadian Patent Agent.

Korona, a well-rounded IP practitioner, focuses on IP protection, prosecution and enforcement of patents and trademarks. He works in the medical device, chemical, biological and related fields, as well as in the consumer goods and business methods areas. In addition, he handles transactional corporate and IP engagements, including due diligence, licensing, nondisclosure and contract provisions.

Korona is a graduate of Seton Hall University School of Law, holds a B.S. in biology from the University of Pittsburgh, and is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Smedley and Korona have been working together for a decade.